§ Mr. GEORGE FABER (for Mr. Stanier)asked whether old people who are qualified for old age pensions may receive outdoor poor relief during this year and still be able to receive old age pensions on 1st January, 1911?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEUnder the law as it at present stands the receipt of poor relief will after the 31st December next only operate as a disqualification while such relief is actually being received. A person who has received poor relief at any time during 1910 will not therefore be subject to disqualification on that account, provided that he has ceased to receive relief by the end of the year.
§ Mr. HUGH LAW (for Mr. Cullinan)asked whether the instructions issued to pension officers in Great Britain were the same as those issued to pension officers in Ireland; and what were the general grounds on which pensions were withdrawn in Great Britain?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe same general instructions have been issued to all pension officers throughout the United Kingdom, but special instructions have necessarily been issued from time to time on points peculiar to each country. The withdrawal of pensions is governed by the provisions of Section 7 of the Act, and the rules affecting such withdrawal are uniform throughout the United Kingdom. In practice the most frequent grounds for withdrawal are that the statutory conditions as to age or means have not been fulfilled, or that disqualification has been incurred on account of the receipt of poor law relief.
§ Mr. HUGH LAW (for Mr. Cullinan)asked whether it is the Local Government Board of Ireland or the Customs and Excise authorities who are responsible for the revision of pensions; the framing of regulations on which cost of maintenance is calculated; the system by which pensions are refused to claimants who appeal; and the refusal to accept the decisions of pension committees as against the opinion of pension officers?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSE1. The initiative in raising questions with a view to revoking pensions already granted, or reducing the rate of pension, rests with the pension officer. The responsibility for deciding on questions thus raised rests with the local pension committee, or with the Local Government Board, in the event of an appeal by the pensioner or pension officer against the committee's decision. 2. The value of the privilege of free maintenances falls to be determined by the pension authority upon the facts in each case, in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 of the Act. It is not governed by Regulation. 3. It is within the power of the Local Government Board as Central Pension Authority to determine whether a claim which has been the subject of appeal shall be allowed or rejected, and this power is derived from Section 7 (1) (c) of the Act. 4. With regard to the fourth part of the question, the responsibility rests with the Local Government Board.
§ Mr. P. O'BRIEN (for Mr. Scanlan)asked the total number of persons at present in receipt of old age pensions in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland respectively, the total sum payable per year in pensions in each of these countries, the total number of applicants for pensions whose applications have been refused by the Local Government Board in each country since the commencement of the Act, and the number of cases in each country in which pensions granted and for some time paid have been withdrawn by the Local Government Board in each of these countries?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEIn answer to the first part of the question, the total number of persons in receipt of old age pensions in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, and the total amounts payable to them on 31st December last, the latest date available, were as follows:—
| Number. | Amount. | |||||
| £ | s. | d. | ||||
| England. | … | 405,755 | … | 5,043,331 | 16 | 0 |
| Scotland | … | 76,037 | … | 966,370 | 12 | 0 |
| Wales | … | 26,972 | … | 337,253 | 16 | 0 |
| Ireland | … | 183,976 | … | 2,335,764 | 12 | 0 |
§ It should be noted that the amounts given represent the amounts payable on a given date, and vary from day to day. Inquiry as to the last parts of the question should be addressed to the respective Local Government Boards.
12Mr. YOUNGER (for Mr. Gretton)asked whether, in consequence of the short provision they have made for the necessary Supply, it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to make any special arrangement for the continuance of old age pensions after the middle of May; and what steps will be taken by the Government to warn old age pensioners that there may be some delay in the payment of their pensions?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI was not aware that the hon. Member was interested on his own account, nor do I know whether he is acting on behalf of old age pensioners who may be alarmed as to the due payment of their pensions. There is no necessity to make any special arrangement for the continuance of old age pensions after the first week of May, which will be paid, as heretofore, on the sole authority of the House of Commons.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEIs it his intention to bring in a further Vote on Account and a further Consolidated Fund Bill in May?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThat question had better be postponed until the occasion arises.
Mr. YOUNGERDoes not the deliberate policy of the Government constitute a serious danger to those people of delay in receiving their pensions?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI should have thought that the matter was so obvious that there was no necessity to put the question.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, some months having intervened since the last reference, he will again direct his attention to the case of Mrs. Maria Burns, of Labasheeda, West Clare, who has applied for an old age pension, and on behalf of whose claim strong local testimony is available?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEA fresh claim was received from Mrs. Maria Burns on 5th December last, in support of which she produced a document which she stated to be a record of her baptism made many years ago by her father. In view, however, of the evidence obtained from the Census Returns, 1851, as given in my reply to the hon. Member's question on 5th October last, the Pension Committee on 10th February last disallowed the claim.
§ Mr. LYNCHIs there no escape from the Census of 1851, which is obviously inaccurate, as can be proved by comparison with that of 1841?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI understand that, in relation to both the Census of 1841 and that of 1851, although it is true that some persons have lost their pensions in consequence of differences in them, there are a great number of doubtful cases in which they have gained pensions in consequence of perhaps equally erroneous entries in them.
§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHasked the Prime Minister whether he proposes, to take any steps to allay the fears of old age pensioners as to the safety of their pensions by reason of the refusal of the Government to provide themselves at this time of the Session with the necessary money for the customary period?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)I am not aware of the existence of any such fears as the Noble Lord imagines.